Chain link



H. W. GILBERT Jan. 9, 1951 CHAIN LINK Filed July 16, 1945 INVENTOR Howard W Gilbert ATTOR EY Patented Jan. 9, 1 951 CHAIN LINK Howard W. Gilbert, Shaker Heights, Ohio, as-

signor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 16, 1945, Serial No. 605,327

1Claim. 1

This invention relates to chain links and, more particularly, to stud chain joining links.

An object of this invention is to join effectively two lengths of chain by a stud chain joinin link, which may be readily applied.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stud chain joining link which can be quickly attached to two links of chain, which holds the link firmly together without danger of breaking, and which can be manufactured economically.

Anchor chains are ordinarily manufactured in lengths of fifteen fathoms or ninety feet, known as shots. To join one or more shots into a cable for use on ships or to replace a defective or broken link in a chain, joining links are employed. These joining links must be sufficiently strong to withstand the severe use to which the cable is subjected and are preferabl so constructedthat they can be relatively easily joined together and taken apart.

In accordance with this invention, a stud chain joining link is provided which is capable of withstanding the severe use to which the cable is subjected, which can be readily attached to the terminal links of lengths of chain to be joined together and which can be manufactured economically. The stud chain joining link of this invention can be disassembled quickly and for this reason is particularly adapted for use in connecting a cable of chain to an anchor.

The stud chain joining link of this invention may be more fully understood by referenceto the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the embodimentof the stud chain joining link of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the link shown in Fig. 1 along the line 22 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the link shown in Fig. 1 along the lines 33 thereof.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the link shown in Fig. 1 along the line 4-4 thereof.

Figs. 5 and 6 are a plan view and side elevation,

respectively, of the main or 0 portion of the link shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a plan view of the detachable or T portion of the link shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the detachable or T portion of the link shown in Fig. 7 as viewed along the line 88 thereof.

Referring to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts, the numeral i0 is the main or 0 portion of the link. A'detachable or T portion H, which includes a stud I2, is adapted for same manner as the bottom surfaces 33 of groove [4). A projection or tongue it, having a tapered aperture I! on the C-shaped member Ill secures the detachable member H to the member ill by means of a tapered retaining pin it. Two lugs IS on the member I I are adapted to be adjacent the tongue [5 when the parts are assembled. Tapered apertures 20 in the lugs l9 aline with the tapered aperture IT on the tongue It to accommodate the tapered retaining pin I3 and hold securely together the T-shaped member H and C-shaped member [0. An end of one of the tapered apertures 29 is' counterbored with an outward taper for the insertion of a soft metal f plug 2|. The plug 2!, not shown in Fig. 1. V

The T shaped member H has a lug or projection 22 and a groove or recession 23 adapted and tapered, respectively, for engaging the roov l4 and the lug l5 of member I0. The inner surface 30 and outer surface 3% of lug 22 converge in the direction of stud l9 and the sides of surface 3| of lug 22 diverge in the direction of stud H3. The sides and bottom of groove 23 diverge in the direction of stud l9. The lug 22, with its corresponding groove or recession is, and the groove 23 with its corresponding lug l5 are constructed and arranged as shown in Fig. 2, sothat a relatively tight fit exists between the area of innermost recess of the groove l4 and shoulders adjawhile shown in Fig. 3, is

cent the lug I5 and its associated surface on the lug 22, and clearance is provided between the other associated surfaces of the lugs 22 and i5 and the grooves I4 and 23.

It is preferred to have the stud link of a size substantially the same as that of the common links to be joined together by the joining link of this invention, and it is essential that such joining links have approximately the same strength as that of the links to be joined together.

In order to obtain the necessary strength it is essential to have a very accurate fit between the pulling surfaces on the C and T shaped members. To manufacture the stud chain joining link to obtain such a fit, both the C-Shaped member 10 and the T-shaped member II are first cast or forged. In thi preliminary casting or forging operation it is virtuall impossible to secure the desired close engagement of the pulling surfaces.

Therefore, after casting, the T-shaped member H is reheated to a temperature at which it can be readily forced into the arms 13 of the c-sheped memette ret i e between 9 and 1250'? 'F, been round satisfactory to as; sure sufiicient plasticity of the metal to allow it to flow. As a result of this operation, and due to the construction of the tapered surfaces on the associated lugs and recesses, the metal will flow to permit the pulling surfaces 9;; the T-shaped member to acid el to the contour of the pulling ,slww i the 1g C-shaped member. To correct any tendency for lugs 22 to spread, the resulting joined stud may be placed horizontally between two fiat dies and pressed together. While it is convenient to press the entire assembled link, it is only essentt press h ertien e e t e it te lessin mbers. Thiesr t e ter-e e t h e t'Ween h nt e i t e s te t t with he e s s a l P-e r nti ettle th rete at th e si s a ei et es or he T -e ep 9 m ber and their corlisp gontac en he Csheted rbe c. el ste ef h at n t e -sheeeq member th e e member m he eet ti sea tits T'- eheped m e t between the it a t h sed m m er-whi t e isten d enit is e 9 a a n ee h t e esta es T-shaped member may be heated.

By the fa tur e st d link b th s Praess, the m c ni 9t ie ee teetitis' .14 7 s i eliminated and eubetenti l in rnal et aiee ere set in the eeu in et ti link: the stu link is n a tee ed n the eeereet ena manner with the two parts assent? led 13y String e ee fit we n th PHQiH and the surfaces substantially perpendicular thereto in the joihture of the if-shaped her a e "e t tes mem en strength in the resulting is aiiorded, lia loose fit exists between those surfaces, abnormal 45 bending stresses are set up in the res ting To connect the terminal of of chain the ceshaped member 19 s A through free e et a termiee 1 3 a the two lengths of chains to be joined or an end .gf 00 a cable and a a them e end the he 't mem er it a e rawn ea longitudinally; a d the T-eiteres ae ate? i! i inserted through the open arms e-shaped me e a tie i rat at t ll with the OShaiaed member IQ. Wh n he apertures t thea r e ite itte tie it is serted and, if desired, the soft metal plus gr inserted toretain the pin l8 pos he et e nteeim et t t etrl tzt of the stud chain joining link are identical, they may be difierent sizes. For example, in a stud chain joining link in accordance with this invention which is adapted for joining a chain cable with an anchor, one of the eyes is substantially the same as that illustrated, while the other e e i eql ewhet larger t eeee ant ti the shack e 9 the an The terms and expressions which are employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any mechanical eguiyalents of the features shown described .0 ",ortions thereof, but it is recogthalt yar gus structural modifications are possible within the scope of the invention l il i Whatis claimed is:

A stud joining link comprising a C-shaped member terminating in a pair of spaced arms, earth arm ha n a transver el extendin sheped tee e th en t e each 9. a e revesbevin e Side tee ite ree the n l of teet di eases s9 te tiiwer e with tesnee to the corresponding 51: filfice of the other re v e it e-tien inward 9f a d eemt en e' T i le mem tirteler a t be ween sa d arm t9 te m a ee rip ete s in a. tit id Q ehened membe the len itqeieal e t at? :15 iei t sa d enager? member tee s e Q-eitepe i teeeee each e d thea er? er teee mg h en a en 9 ai arms eeeb e es i aid ene -e 1 m mber 1 e me se i T1 4 1- in sho White di er ith r s e t, t th eertee e tltn the lqe a t e ithe re'lees i sai eh ne m mbe in e Qireetien. inwer il Qt th l t e t t; s u slete b in ada ted. ti t e it w th e i sid eitriae i ets 9 seed ine'm aet ieenemeti a en o set; ewett her to said C-sl'iaped member, and means {or seeat ng ee i members eee tee e ls 1 9a P1 's a Pa a e eeett Ines it e f ea s h re an a t e n, he h 9t eeis a d te n between se s like sa J st ei q psqe 2m an al ne e eet e1 e d inward ti t si ef e ein beer e t. sai 9 teased member and in e tas restate in, said enemas EQ ARP @QBEEET:

h talles ns r fe ces a e of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED err-tre 

